Coastal landscapes glossary

Question 1

relief meaning

Answer 1

-describes physical features of a landscape stating,
-height
-steepness
-how its features are shaped

Question 2

waves meaning

Answer 2

-ripples in the sea caused by the transfer of energy from wind blowing over the surface of sea
-largest waves formed when winds are strong

Question 3

fetch meaning

Answer 3

distance that wind blows over the sea before reaching land

Question 4

what is a beach

Answer 4

its deposited sand/rock/pebbles that have built up

Question 5

whats a crest

Answer 5

the top part of a wave

Question 6

whats a swash

Answer 6

where a wave moves up a beach

Question 7

whats backwash

Answer 7

when a wave moves back down a beach

Question 8

characteristics of a constructive wave

Answer 8

-a powerful wave
-strong swash
-builds up the beach

Question 9

characteristics of a destructive wave

Answer 9

-formed by storm conditions
-strong backwash
-takes material from beach

Question 10

definition of mass movement

Answer 10

the downhill movement of weathered material under the force of gravity

-speed varies considerably

Question 11

whats slumping

Answer 11

rapid mass movement where a segment of cliff moves downslope

Question 12

whats sliding

Answer 12

-occurs after periods of heavy rain
-when loose material becomes saturated and gains weight and moves downhill

Question 13

rockfall

Answer 13

collapse of a cliff face

Question 14

landslide

Answer 14

blocks of rock slide downwards

Question 15

whats a rotational slip

Answer 15

saturated soil and weak rock that slump along a curved surface

Question 16

whats chemical weathering

Answer 16

-decomposition (or rotting) of rock caused by a chemical change within rock

-sea water can cause chemical weathering of cliffs

Question 17

whats mechanical weathering

Answer 17

-process that causes physical disinteregation or break up of exposed rock
-e.g freeze-thaw weathering

Question 18

erosion

Answer 18

wearing away or removal of material by a moving force
-e.g breaking wave

Question 19

hydraulic power

Answer 19

waters forced into cracks in cliff
gradually making it bigger +bigger

Question 20

abrasion + corrasion

Answer 20

rocks are flung at the cliff by powerful waves
-starting to erode cliffs

Question 21

corrosion or solution

Answer 21

rocks like limestone dissolve

Question 22

attrition

Answer 22

pebbles bang together making them smaller and smoother

Question 23

transportation meaning

Answer 23

movement of eroded material

Question 24

traction meaning

Answer 24

heavy rocks rolled along the sea bed

Question 25

solution meaning

Answer 25

dissolved chemicals are transported in water

Question 26

saltation meaning

Answer 26

pebbles bounce along the sea bed

Question 27

suspension meaning

Answer 27

lighter particles, sand are suspended in water

Question 28

longshore drift

Answer 28

transport of sediment along coastline

-waves approach the beach at a 45degree angle and transport beach material up and down the beach

Question 29

sand dune

Answer 29

coastal sand hill above the high tide mark shaped by wind action and covered with grasses and shrubs

Question 30

embryo dune

Answer 30

-salty and close to sea
-at the front of the dunes

Question 31

fore dune

Answer 31

older than embryos and higher and further from the sea